View a FREE sample

1. How does the story open? How does the first sentence compel the reader to read the next?

The story opens with a sentence explaining the accidental death of a boy. Even without knowing the characters or the ages of the boys involved, the reader is drawn into the story to see what happens. It is shocking to the reader to have a story begin with such a powerful image in the first sentence.

2. Who is involved in the accident and how old are they? Why is the accident seem particularly difficult for the two surviving children?

Jack, the oldest child and driver of the tractor, is twelve. David, his younger brother who is killed under the tractor, is seven. Phoebe, who at five is the youngest child, watches the accident as it happens. Jack is haunted by the fact he was driving the tractor and might have been able to stop it and save his brother. Phoebe is traumatized by witnessing the accident and seeing his brother pulled under the cultipacker.

(read all 60 Short Essay Questions and Answers)

This section contains 4,794 words (approx. 16 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample